‘Damaged’ (2024) Review – A Sloppy And Predictable Thriller

Samuel L. Jackson is back playing a detective in a globetrotting exploit to track down a serial killer. Damaged offers little fresh takes on the classic cat-and-mouse game thriller, but there are captivating performances and beautiful cinematography to at least make it watchable. In the movie, Jackson’s Detective Lawson travels to Scotland, where a serial killer’s crimes bear a similarity to an unsolved case of his own back in the States. Partnered with Detective Boyd (Gianni Capaldi), there is a clashing of styles, but the story never spins any new yarns. The structure follows the usual procedural format, but the pacing is sometimes pedantic. What saves the film is Jackson’s performance of a haunted detective desperate to solve one last case and the unsettling aura of a serial ritualistic killer on the loose.

At the start, Damaged begins with a brutal murder of the first victim in Scotland. The similarity to the crimes in Chicago brings Detective Lawson overseas to offer expertise and perhaps solve the case. Lawson is a man who clings to the bottle while chasing old ghosts from his past. He is a relentless detective and jumps at the chance to see if there is a connection to a case he failed to solve. Jackson shines in the role here, even when the material is derivative. In addition to Lawson, another ex-detective, Bravo (Vincent Cassel), also lives overseas and gets in on the case. Both Lawson and Bravo provide unique perspectives for Boyd, who is working to solve the murders in Scotland.

At the center of Damaged is a compelling story of a seemingly international serial killer. The problem for the film lies in the journey getting to the center. And even when we arrive at the point of discovery, the twist and reveal are paint-by-the-numbers that offer no surprise for fans of a good thriller. The film lacks the sense of menace that movies like Seven and Zodiac do so well. What this film has going for it, in addition to a subdued and reflective Jackson, is stunning visuals.

The cinematography is sweeping and of even higher quality than the story ever rises to in the film. Matthias Pötsch makes Scotland’s gothic architecture unnerving. Even when the film moves to the countryside, there is creepy intimacy in the cinematic canvas. It is a shame the story plays things safe because the cinematography is worthy of being placed along other great thrillers with a similar canvas.

Along with Jackson and Cassel, much of the film follows Detective Boyd trying to crack the case. There is also an element of problems at home that feed into overloading the detective’s stacked plate. Jackson’s character is indomitable on screen; audiences are more invested in him solving the case than in any other subplot. The story spins itself into a web of half-truths and some intrigue. However, any fan of the genre will crack this case before the end of Act One as the film tries to play too cute by half with its mystery. 

The challenge in a movie like Damaged is that the options for crafting a killer are slim. When only a few players are left on the board, the outcome is predictable. The reveal in this film will certainly leave little to the imagination. The film tips its hand early on and tries to pull the wool over the audience’s eyes with a few obvious red herrings. The film does keep the audience engaged, but that is a tribute to Jackson and his on-screen charisma.

Damaged suffers from a story that does not support the strength of its cast. The outcome is sloppy and predictable. The film is not damaged goods, but with a captivating cast, it deserves something grander and mind-bending than patent-predictability.

Damaged will debut in select theaters and On Demand & Digital platforms on April 12, 2024, courtesy of Lionsgate. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJQcADLajUs]